Vocabulary

AC: Alternating Current.  an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies.

Buck Converter: A buck resistor, or more accurately, a resistor used in a buck converter, is a component that, along with other parts like a switch, inductor, and capacitor, helps reduce a DC voltage to a lower level. Buck converters are a type of switching regulator that efficiently lower voltage by rapidly switching a supply voltage on and off. The resistor network (often a voltage divider) in a buck converter's feedback loop is crucial for setting the desired output voltage. 

Capacitor: Capacitor, device for storing electrical energy, consisting of two conductors in close proximity and insulated from each other. A simple example of such a storage device is the parallel-plate capacitor.

Current: In electronics, "current" refers to the flow of electrical charge, typically electrons, through a conductor within a circuit, essentially measuring the rate at which these charges move past a specific point; it is measured in amperes (amps).

DC: Direct Current; Direct current (DC) is one-directional flow of electric charge. An electrochemical cell is a prime example of DC power. Direct current may flow through a ...

Electromotive Force: The attractive force between positive and negative charges is an electromotive force called voltage. Negative electrons move toward a positive voltage by way of a conductor.

Electricity: Simply the movement of electrons through a conductor.

Electrons: An elementary particle that has a negative charge of electricity and travels around the nucleus of an atom. (Source: Merriam-Webster 2024)

Inductance: the property of an electric conductor or circuit that causes an electromotive force to be generated by a change in the current flowing.

Ohms: Ohms, represented by the Greek letter omega (Ω), is the International System of Units (SI) unit used to measure electrical resistance. It's defined as the resistance between two points in a circuit when a potential difference of one volt (V) produces a current of one ampere (A). Ohms are used to express quantities in multiples of 10, such as kiloohms and megaohms, or in smaller quantities, such as microohms. The mathematical relationship between resistance, voltage, and current is described by Ohm's law, which states that resistance is equal to voltage divided by current. 

Ohms Law: In the early 1800s, George Ohm published an equation called Ohm’s Law that allows you to make this calculation. Ohm’s Law states that the voltage equals current multiplied by resistance, or in standard mathematical notation V = I x R

Power\Watts Law: P = V x I; or power = voltage x current

Protons: The proton is a subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge. They are found in every atomic nucleus of every element. In almost every element, protons are accompanied by neutrons. The only exception is the nucleus of the simplest element, hydrogen. Hydrogen contains only a single proton and no neutrons.

PWM: Pulse width modulation (PWM) is a technique that uses digital control to create analog results. It's a common method for controlling a device or system in electronics. PWM works by creating a square wave, which is a signal that switches between on and off. The amount of time the signal spends on versus the time it spends off is called the pulse width. By changing the pulse width, you can get different analog values. PWM is used in many applications, including: LED dimming: PWM is often used to adjust the brightness of LEDs by changing the duty cycle. Motor control: PWM is used in basic motor control systems. Solar panels: PWM is used in combination with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to reduce the output of a solar panel so that it can be used by a battery.Mixing RGB colors: PWM can be used to mix RGB colors to create different colors. 

Resistors: A resistor is a passive electrical component that controls the flow of electricity in an electronic circuit. Function: Resistors limit or regulate the flow of current, reduce voltage, and absorb energy. They can also be used to bias active elements, adjust signal levels, and terminate transmission lines. How it works: Resistors are made of conductive materials, but not perfect conductors, so they impede the flow of electrons. The resistance of a resistor is determined by the materials used, their conductivity, surface area, and length. 

Voltage: Voltage describes the “pressure” that pushes electricity. The amount of voltage is indicated by a unit known as the volt (V), and higher voltages cause more electricity to flow to an electronic device.

A large part of the definitions and conclusions in my vocabulary list come from Electronic for Dummies (c) 2005, Miriam-Webster's Dictionary, Arduino for Dummies and Arduino Projects for Dummies, As well as FCC Amateur Radio test study material.